Steering mechanism.



'Gg T. GENZBL'.

STEERING MEGHANISM. l APLIOATION FILED` DEG. 9, 1911.

1,043,088. Y l Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

l t Summe@ vTo, all whom #may 3mcern.: y l

Be it known that I, CHARLIE T. GrENz'nL,-

UNITED sTATEs PATENT ormoni.

CHARLIE T. GENZEL, or ,wIMBLEDQNg NORTH DAKOTA.

al citizen of the United States, residing at `Wimbledonyxin the county of Barnes and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steers ing Mechanism; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a" full, clear, and exactde.

scription of the invention, such as vwill en-l able others skilled in the art to .which it ap-` pertains 'to make and use the same.

sob

This invention .relates to steering mechanism for use in connection with traction engines in plowing outfits; and itconsists in the novel construction and combination of `the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed whereby the traction engine is steered automatically while plowing, byy

means of a furrow wheel which runs in a furrow previously plowed in the ground.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a `side view of the front end portion of a tract-ion engine provided with a steering attachment according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the attachment. Fig. 3 is a front view of the front part of the attachment. Fig. 4 is a cross-section throught-he supporting frame, taken Von the line in Fig. 2, and showing the adjustable 'cross race.

The traction engine is of any approved construction, and it is provided with a front axle 2 having ground wheels 3. nThis front axle is pivoted to the main frame 4 of the engine by a vertical pivot 5, and it is provided with anyv approved steering mechanism for guiding the engine by hand in the ordinary way.

In order to steer the engine automatically, while plowing, and after a furrow has been plowed in the ground, two arms 10 and 11 are pivoted by pins l2 to the front axle 2. These arms are arranged at an angle to each other, and they project in a substantially horizontaly plane in front of the engine. A bracket 14 is secured to the front end portions of tlxese arms and is provided with a vertical bearing l5. The two arms are 'of unequal length, and-the longer arm 11 is formed in sections Aand provided with a cou` speeiacation f Letters retenu.'

Ysrnnniue MEGHANISM.

Curedk`adju's-tablyito` the arms by bolts 18 so that they can be adjusted to suit the adjustmentnf the arms.

22 for securing the sections of the brace t-ogether ,after its length has been adjusted, .The 1 ends v of the brace are provided with Patetedxovgamia. Application"IedDeCember 9, 1911. Serial No, 664,899. s it 1 contractible, sockets 23 :and clamping bolts 24 to connect the kbrace to the arms of the l I frame and to permit all the necessary adjustments. ,f5-The arms 10 and 11 are preferably vformediof metallic tubing, butt-hey vmay be formed'in any other approved way.

A vertical yspindle 25 is journaled inthe bearing 15, andthe lower end of this spindle; 1s provided with a contractible 'socket26 and clamping bolts27. A steering axle 28 is vclamped in the socket 26. .and is provided at one end with an inclined axle spindle 30 `which. is arranged atanangle of about 45 with respect to the main portion of the axle and (the axle spindle r31 on its other end. A furrow -wheel 32 is journaled on the inclined axle spindle 30, and runs in the angle of the furrow; at about an angle of 45 to the surface of the ground, as shown in Fig. 3. A ground wheel 34 is journaled on the axle spindle 3l, and runs on the unplowed surface of the ground. The position of the steering axle in the socket 26 can be adjusted both longitudinally and `circumferentially when the clamping bolts are slackened. Vhen the position of the center ofthe spindle 25 is adjusted, the position ofthe furrow f wheel is also ladjustedvbut without chang- QS ing the distance between the spindle 25 and the furrow wheel, which distance can be adjustedindependently, and so as to suit all. requirements. A cord 36, or other suitable lifting tackl is secured to the' bracket 14, and its rearend is connected to any suitable hoisting barrel or device 37 carried by the main frame of the traction engine. This cord or tackle is used to raise the wheels 32 and 34 clear of the ground when the traction engine is vturned around at the end 0f the field.

Flexible check connections or chains 40 are provided between `the frame and the,

steering axle for limiting the' movements of the axle, and these connections have springs al1` inserted 1n their length.

This attachment will steer the en ine automatically when the furrow w eel is,

started up a furrow, vand it thereby saves the labor of one man in handling the engine,vwhile plowing; as when the engine 1s steered in the ordinary way, by hand, a

man is required to-attend to the steering.

mechanism.

What I claim is:

l 1. The combination, with a traction engine having a pivoted front axle and ground wheels, of a frame pivoted to the front axle and projecting forwardly thereof and provided with avertical bearing at its free end, a spindle journaled in the said bearing,-A a steering axle having its middle ,part secured to the said spindle and having an axle spindle atoneend which is Copies of this patent may be obtained for inclined vwith respect to the'axle spindle at its other. end, connections arranged. one on A ground. wheel mounted bearing and having a socket at one end, a steering axle which is adjustable longitudinally and circumferentially in the said socket and which has an axle spindle at one end which is inclined with respect to the axle spindle at its other end, and an inclined furrow wheel and a ground wheel mounted on the respective axle spindles.

3. The combination, with a traction engine having a pivoted front axle and ground wheels, of a frame comprising two inclined arms connected together by adjustable braces and ivoted tothe front axle and provided with a vertical bearing at its free end, one fof the said arms being extensible 'longitudinally to adjust the position of the said bearing, a spindle journaled in the said bearin a steering axle secured to the said spind and having an axlel spindle at one end which is inclined with respect tothe axle spindle at its other end, and an inclined furrow wheel and a on the respective axle' spindles.`

ln testimonywhereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLIE T. GENZEL.

Witnesses F. H. PIERCE, MARGARET FRIED.

live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

